Paris Furnished Apartments: Tips on Renting an Apartment in Paris by Locals

gs” data-blacklist-all=”1″>

Your Home in Paris – Enjoy Paris Like a Local

Hotels are still the most popular option to rest your head at the end of the day but if you dream of living the Paris lifestyle, then Paris furnished apartments are the best way to get a feel for the local atmosphere.

Sure, if you stay in a city for a few nights, it’s often easier to just check into a hotel. But, if you are staying a bit longer, or you are traveling with kids, most of the times it is a better idea to rent an apartment.

We always rent an apartment when we travel for a long time. It gives us more space, there are more privacy and freedom than in hotels and you can even cook some of your meals to save money. In addition, it makes us feel a little better about getting to know a city.

But, before looking for Paris vacation rentals, it’s important to take a few things into consideration. How to rent an apartment in Paris? Here are our tips on renting an apartment in Paris by locals.

1- Pick The Right Company for Short Term Rental Paris

In a so touristy city like Paris, there are hundreds of websites with different reputation proposing Paris apartments for rent online. When we travel we tend to use (and we recommend) Booking.com, now also proposing short and long term furnished rentals in Paris. The site offers a variety of property types in the heart of Paris, (perhaps the best Paris apartment rentals) including studios, family apartments or Paris luxury rentals, just to name a few.

This means that whatever kind of property we are looking for, we don’t need to change of website and all our bookings are stored in the same dashboard. If like us you are a frequent traveler (called “Genius” on booking.com) this means that interesting discounts are also proposed for Paris apartment rentals.

Finding an apartment in Paris is very easy with booking.com. Thewebsite is easy to navigate and it is available in any language and currency. Through its filters, you can search your Paris apartment by different criteria like Paris District, type of property, price or your travel dates. For each apartment, you have a short description, its location on Google Maps, some basic data, photos of all the rooms, and the feedback from previous tenants.

2- Choose The Right Location in Paris

When renting an apartment in Paris, this is probably one of the most important things to look at. Is my apartment in Paris near public transportation? Is it in a safe neighborhood? Are there nice things to see around?

Perhaps you have been to Paris already and you have an idea about where to stay. With booking.com you can filter by Paris district and for each proposal, you can see its location on the map, and other information like main sights, or metro stations. Also, at the end of the description, you have an “Area Info” chapter with the closest landmarks, most popular landmarks and suggestions of restaurants and markets nearby.

3- Ensure Your Paris Apartment Has The Right Amenities

When booking Paris apartments make a list of all the equipment that you need to be comfortable. On booking.com there are some “facility filters” in the general research and for each apartment, you can see the list of facilities at the end of the page.

Are you going to work from your home in Paris? In this case, you need WI-FI (usually good in Paris apartments) and perhaps having the bedroom separated from the living room. Also, a full kitchen is important and can save you lots of money in restaurants. If you plan to cook some meals in your Parisian apartment, check the kitchen equipment and its picture to be sure that it has all that you need.

Many apartments to rent in Paris don’t have A/C and, in our opinion, it is not necessary for Paris. Small and cheaper apartments may not have a washing machine but if you are traveling on a budget don’t exclude them because there are many public laundries around.

Something to consider with Paris apartments short term is the apartment’s accessibility. Buildings in Paris, especially downtown, are very old and most of them don’t have elevators. On booking.com, you can see for each apartment its most popular facilities and you can read guests’ comments to check if they had any issue with it.

If you want to be sure about this aspect, and you don’t want to find yourself carrying your luggage up the stairs to the top floor, use the filter “Facilities for disabled guests” which usually includes Entire unit wheelchair accessible and upper floors accessible by elevator

The good thing is that most apartment rentals offer loads of information on what is included in the apartment – often way more than a hotel listing!

X

4- Shop At The Local Market

As mentioned before, we tend to look for apartments that have a full kitchen. Having that kitchen not only cuts down on costs because you aren’t forced to eat all of your meals out, but it also gives you the opportunity to live a little more like a local. In Paris, you have a big choice of local markets, some of them so beautiful that have become also tourist attractions. On booking.com each apartment has an “Area Info” on the description, with a suggestion of restaurants and markets nearby. Also, it is interesting to spend some time reading what past guest have said about the property: usually they share their best findings in the apartment’s neighborhood.

Of course, you can eat out for all of your meals when traveling. It’s certainly part of the experience and Paris won’t disappoint you with its yummy proposals. But, sometimes after a full day out visiting sights, you are just too tired to dress up and go out for dinner. And there is something special about cooking your own meals in an apartment overseas.

5- Know your Budget

When looking for apartments for rent in Paris France it is important to know your budget, how much you want to spend. On Booking.com‘s website, you can do your research by budget (per night) and then sort the results by “lowest price first”.

However, if you have the “Genius” status you may want to have a look at the properties with Genius rates (green tab on the right). Sometimes very nice places (or even Paris luxury apartments!) have interesting discounts so it is worth to pay a little extra and get that amazing apartment usually available for much more.

This is what happens when you are “Genius” with booking 🙂

At first sight, Paris apartment rentals are more expensive than hotel rooms. But remember that you can save a lot of money on meals, laundry and more.

Be sure to read all the details to understand what is included and what is not. If an apartment in Paris City Center turns to be too expensive for you, try to look for other apartments in less central areas. The good news is that you are never far from a metro station in Paris.

X

6- Need more Comfort? Book a Serviced Apartment

Booking.com has also a good choice of serviced apartments providing hotel-like amenities such as room service, housekeeping, a fitness center, a laundry room, and a recreation room. This means that you are getting the best of both worlds! An easy way to find this kind of apartments is to use the filters “apartments” and “room service” at the same time. Be sure to read all the details to understand what is included and what is not. On booking.com it is clearly stated on “Facilities” section if there is an additional charge.

X

7- Make The Most of your Furnished Apartment in Paris

You have booked your furnished apartment in Paris so now make the most of it! Feel comfortable, unpack your bags, do the laundry, get up when you want, there is no limited time for breakfast! Explore the neighborhood, even if there are not any tourist sites. Perhaps, you end up going to pick up the baguette for your Parisian breakfast at the neighborhood’s boulangerie. Paris vacation apartments are quickly becoming people’s favorite choice to stay in Paris and we are sure you will enjoy it too. Perhaps, you will leave with the feeling of having found a second home in Paris. . .

Disclaimer: this post includes affiliate links, meaning we get a small commission if you make a purchase through our links. It costs you nothing more (in fact, if anything, you’ll get a nice discount) but helps us to go on creating incredible Paris content for you. We trust all products promoted here and would never recommend a product that isn’t of value.

World in Paris is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

Staying in an apartment, especially in a fascinating city like Paris, looks like a great way to explore. Paris Attitude looks like it has a huge selection. I like the idea of a loft apartment and one with a view of the Eiffel Tower. There’s something rather alluring about breakfast in bed in Paris. I love that main shot! Paris is a fabulous city to get lost in. There are so many areas to explore you could be lost for ever!

Christina

12/06/2017 at 1:59 pm

I really like the sound of Paris Attitude – I do like staying in apartments when I travel, but I’ve grown wary of booking sites like Airbnb which don’t have a great deal of oversight. So it’s great to hear that Paris Attitude actually visits and checks the apartments they rent out and photograph them before advertising online.

The apartments sound beautiful – would love to get something fully furnished in Paris, even if it was only for a few days. And seems easy enough to find a cool location with the Google map feature. Off to figure out which one I like best!

WorldInParis

12/06/2017 at 2:03 pm

With more than 7000 apartments in their portfolio, it will be hard to choose! 😉

Megan Jerrard

12/06/2017 at 5:37 am

I love Paris Attitude – such a fabulous way to enjoy Paris like a local, stay in local neighborhoods – and with such a huge collection there’s so many different apartments to choose from. I don’t know, I feel like a furnished apartments makes it feel more than just a holiday – like you’re actually a part of the city. Such a great alternative to hotel stays which are usually very cookie cutter and all the same.

WorldInParis

12/06/2017 at 2:08 pm

Yes yes, plus you can do your groceries and cook some meals which means a big saving 😉

These are really great tips. I always say I’m going to rent an apartment on my travels (just so we can have the kitchen) but I never get around to researching. This makes it easier for me to do it on my next visit to Paris! Thanks for the great guide and loads of tips. You’re right that location is very important!

I haven’t even had a chance to explore Paris as a tourist yet, but this really does appeal to me, especially now that I’ve started to slow down in my travels and actually enjoy what I’m seeing. There is so much to do in Paris (and such long lines for them) that I’d probably need a couple weeks anyway to really appreciate the city, and one of these apartments would be a great way to do just that. I’ll probably have to avoid those districts which are the most expensive, although the houseboat really appeals to me. Will have to keep that in mind when I visit!

I love the idea of getting an apartment over a hotel! Been doing that in most places that we go to and it’s great having access to your own kitchen etc. Thanks for the tip about avoiding the expensive areas. The metro system in Paris is super efficient so you can really get around places. Love the apartment suggestions you gave!

You make a very good point about avoiding the most expensive arrondissement if you’re on a budget – the metro is such a valuable asset, you don’t need to be right in the centre to get places. Studio rentals are also a great idea. I remember visiting a friend’s studio apartment near Jussieu and it was amazing how well they used the space! I’ll check out Paris Attitude next time I’m in Paris, as it looks like a good hotel alternative!

WorldInParis

12/02/2017 at 9:56 pm

Lol! Yes, I lived in a 17 m2 apartment for a year and I can tell you that every cm2 of the space was optimized! For me it was OK because I was coming from a 1 year world tour sleeping in dorms most of the time but this is everyday life for many Parisians. To be honest, if I had to rent an apartment for a vacation in Paris I would prefer to have less space but a more central location.

I’ve got a good few friends who moved out to Paris not too long ago. The price of rent is always a shock but I grew up in London so I’m pretty much used to it. Where you stay definitely seems to completely alter your experience. One of my mates is living in a beautiful luxurious apartment while the other is a sex shop, quite a contrasting reality.

WorldInParis

12/02/2017 at 9:57 pm

Would you mind giving me the address of your friend living in a luxurious apartment in Paris? It would be nice to meet him . . . 😉

Sounds a great option when visiting Paris. You can stay in some nice areas and as you mention, feel more like a local. It is also a good option if there are a few of you. We visit Paris quite a lot and will check this out next trip.

I never thought of renting a place abroad, even if we do it often in Italy when we’re exploring. I think it’s great that there’s a service that not only lets you rent, but selects also the safest and nicest places: it’s not always like this with other agencies! I’ll definitely save this for later use 🙂

We used to go Paris often in the 1990s and haven’t been much since but a recent trip made me realise I’ve missed it and we’re planning a return for next year. Apartment living looks like a perfect way to update our Paris experiences!

BONJOUR, WE 'RE WORLD IN PARIS!

We are independent travelers and restless souls with a passion for our own city, the City of Lights. Quirky explorers with a preference for the local side of Paris and its less known sights, we are continuously looking for new ideas to enjoy the best of Paris & beyond. Keep clicking for first-hand information, best tips & tons of inspiration to enjoy Paris Like a Local.